1999 Goody's Headache Powder 500

The 1999 Goody's Headache Powder 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place August 28, 1999, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

1999 Goody's Headache Powder 500
Race details[1]
Race 23 of 34 in the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Map of the Bristol Motor Speedway
Map of the Bristol Motor Speedway
Date August 28, 1999 (1999-08-28)
Location Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee
Course Permanent racing facility
0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Distance 500 laps, 266.5 mi (428.89 km)
Weather Very hot with temperatures of 84.2 °F (29.0 °C); wind speeds of 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
Average speed 91.276 miles per hour (146.894 km/h)
Attendance 140,000[2]
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 124.589 miles per hour (200.507 km/h)
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 225
Winner
No. 3 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing
Television in the United States
Network ESPN
Announcers Play-by-play: Bob Jenkins
Color: Benny Parsons
Color: Ned Jarrett
Pits: Jerry Punch
Pits: John Kernan
Pits: Bill Weber
Nielsen Ratings N/A

The race was the 23rd of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The pole position was held by Joe Gibbs Racing's Tony Stewart, who also led the most laps with 225. The race winner was Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing, who started 26th, the lowest starting position for a winner at Bristol.[3]

Race report

edit

The early part of the race was primarily dominated by Tony Stewart. On lap 410, the caution flew after Dave Marcis' car stopped against the turn-2 wall. Upon the caution flag-waving, Marcis proceeded to drive away, and as Marcis was frequently aided by Richard Childress Racing, suspicions arose over whether or not Marcis intentionally caused a caution.[citation needed] NASCAR then penalized Marcis, and made him stay in pit road for a lap; NASCAR stated that Marcis claimed he could not reach pit road, and had to stop. However, NASCAR said Marcis had a chance to reach pit road on the two laps he was driving slowly before stopping. On the restart, Terry Labonte led the race, and on lap 435, Earnhardt passed Labonte for the lead. However, Labonte then passed Earnhardt with 57 laps left, but on lap 490, Labonte slowed down and was spun by Darrell Waltrip, giving the lead back to Earnhardt.

Labonte then pitted for new tires, and eventually, with five laps remaining, Labonte contested Earnhardt for the lead, setting up the finish. Terry Labonte was leading on the last lap, but he was spun by Earnhardt in turn 2, and Earnhardt secured his ninth victory at Bristol. Jimmy Spencer finished second, followed by Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, and Stewart.[4] Labonte finished in 8th, and one lap down. Earnhardt's victory was subsequently met by boos and obscene gestures from the crowd. NASCAR officials reviewed the pass but decided to let Earnhardt keep the victory. Earnhardt later stated, "I didn’t mean to wreck him, I just wanted to rattle his cage a bit."[5]

A similar incident between Earnhardt and Labonte had occurred four years prior, at the Goody's 500; Earnhardt turned Labonte sideways, and Labonte was pushed by Earnhardt past the finish line sideways, giving Labonte the win.[6]

Top 10 finishers

edit
Pos Grid No. Driver Manufacturer Laps Laps led Points Time/Status
1 26 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 500 46 180 2:55:11
2 24 23 Jimmy Spencer Ford 500 0 170 +0.189 seconds
3 35 10 Ricky Rudd Ford 500 0 165 Flagged
4 4 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 500 48 165 Flagged
5 1 20 Tony Stewart Pontiac 500 225 165 Flagged
6 7 6 Mark Martin Ford 500 0 150 Flagged
7 10 40 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 500 0 146 Flagged
8 9 5 Terry Labonte Chevrolet 499 115 147 Crash damage
9 5 22 Ward Burton Pontiac 499 0 138 -1 Lap
10 13 33 Ken Schrader Chevrolet 499 0 134 -1 Lap

[7]

Standings after the race

edit
 
Dale Jarrett led the points standings after the race.

Source:[2]

Pos Driver Points Difference
1 Dale Jarrett 3573 0
2 Mark Martin 3360 -213
3 Bobby Labonte 3262 -311
4 Jeff Gordon 3222 -351
5 Tony Stewart 3196 -377
6 Jeff Burton 3107 -466
7 Dale Earnhardt 3044 -529
8 Rusty Wallace 2740 -833
9   Terry Labonte 2740 -833
10 Mike Skinner 2660 -913

References

edit
  1. ^ "1999 Goody's Headache Powder 500 weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  2. ^ a b "1999 Goody's Headache Powder 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  3. ^ "ESPN Classic Remembers Dale Earnhardt". ESPN Classic. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  4. ^ "TEC: 1999 Goody's 500". Daleearnhardt.net. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  5. ^ "Bad moves at Goody's". CNN Sports Illustrated. 1999-08-28. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  6. ^ "5 Most Awesome Crashes in NASCAR History". Weird Worm. 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  7. ^ "Race Results".